Rail-joint.



No. 732,390. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

, B. WOLHAUPTER.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 24. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Immun Mmfwwv lL/ea@ Z( Benjanwz masq@ MmvL PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

B. WOLHAUPTBR.

RAIL JOINT.

` APPLICATION FILED JULY 24| 1902. N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 732,390. PATENTLD JUNE ao, 19os.

B. WOLHAUPTER.

RAIL JOINT.v

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 24. 1902. v No MODEL. 4 sHnLTFsHLLT 4.

IllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIII llllllllilllllllll l I Patented June 30, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMN VOLI-IAUPTER., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPFCTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,390, dated. J' une 30, 1903.

Application fneduly 24. 1902.

fr) all whom, t potty concern:

Be it known that 1, BENJAMIN WOLHAUP- TER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved con-v struction in rail-joints of that class having joint plates or bars which fit against the sides of the rails and are held in contact therewith by track-bolts, so as tohold the adjacent ends of the rails rigidly in alinement with each other.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a plan view of a rail-joint embodying lmy invention. Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the joint, taken upon line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the base-plate shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 removed from the other parts. spective view of the joint-bar at the outer y side of the rail or joint. Fig. 6 is a sectionalv view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modified form of construction in the outer joint-bar.` Fig. 7 is a like sectional view showing still other forms of construction in both the inner and outer joint-bars. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the inner joint-bar shown in Fig. 7'. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the base-plate used in connection with the form of inner joint-bar shown in Figs. 7 and 8. and ll are sectional'views of an old or wornout rail and of a blank for making joint-bars, the latter being shown'in an intermediate stage of the process vof making it. Fig. l2 is a sectional view of a rail-joint, showing the form of construction `in which the base-plate and the outermost joint-bar are made integral with each other. Fig. 13 is a view in cross-section of still another form of joint in which the base-plate is likewise made integral with the outermost joint-bar.

First describing the. form of construction Fig. is a per-f Figs.

serial No. 116,765. (No man.)

' illustrated in Figs. 'l to 5, both inclusive, A A

indicate the adjacent ends of ordinary trackrails, the same comprising a head a, a web a', and base-anges c2, the upper surfaces of the base-flanges c2 and the under surfaces of the head a being provided with angular faces inclined at angles to the perpendicular. The web a is shown as provided with one or more transverse bolt-apertures a4, arranged in the usual manner. Bis a base-plate,which in the instance illustrated is made somewhat widerthanV the width of the bases of the rails which rest thereon. Said base-plate is made longitudinally corrugated in form for the purpose of giving sti'- ness to the plate and to afford elevated bearing-surfaces to support the rails and intermediate grooves or depressions to receive sand, grit, or cinders, and thereby prevent the retention of the same between the base plate and rails and consequent wearing away of the parts. The said base-plate, as shown in the accompanying drawings, is provided with flat elevated relatively wide portions b b', which come beneath the side margins of the base-{iangcs of the rails, and with an intermediate corrugated portion forming a plurality of flat top bearing-surfaces b2 b2, located in. the same horizontal plane with the upper surfacesof the marginal parts b b and forming also dat bottom bearing-surfaces b3 b3, which bear against the top surfaces of the ties on which the base-plate` rests. On its inner margin the marginal part ot' the plate is eX- tended downwardly and then horizontally outward to form a marginal flange b4, the bottom surface of which is in the same horizontal plane with the bearing-surfaces b3 3 and which also rests upon the ties. At the outer margin of its outer elevated part b the tie-plate is provided with an upwardly-extending iiange or rib b5, which forms a shoulder against which the outer edges of the baselanges a2of both of the rails rest orv bear. At its opposite or inner part the tie-plate is provided -with spike-holes h6 h6, through which ordinary railway-spikes F F may be Ydriven into the ties on which the base-plate rests.

The spike-holes b will be so located that when the rail is placed in position upon the base-plate with the outer margins of the railfianges abutting against the outer longitudi- ICO nal rib or fiange b5 the other or inner railanges will be of such distance from the outer margins of the spike-holes as to admit the thickness of the spikes, the latter thereby forming keys by which the rail is held firmly against said rib b5.

C indicates the inner joint-bar, which, as shown in the figures, is of familiar construction,the samehaving inclined top and bottom bearing-surfaces adapted to engage the angular faces on the under surface of the head a and on the upper surface of the base-flanges a2 of the rails. Said inner joint-bar is shown as having the form of an angle-bar, the same being provided at its lower margin with an inclined fiange c', which extends outwardly over the inner base-fiange of the rail and is notched at its edges for engagement therewith of the spikes F F, the heads of which bear against the top surface of said flange.

D designates the outer joint-bar, or that which is applied to the outer faces of the adjacentendsof the rails. Said joint-bar consists of a central part orweb d and top and bottom longitudinal members d d2, the bar thus formed constituting, in effect, a girder of' which the web d constitutes the connecting member and the top and bottom members d' d'2 the upper and lower chords. The upper member d' of said bar D is adapted to bear against the outer face of the head a, and the lower member d2 is adapted to engage the outer hase-flanges of the rails. The said lower member d2 is, moreover, provided on its inner face with a longitudinal groove or recess d3, adapted to receive the margins of the base-flanges of the rails, the said longitudinal groove or recess d3 in the instance shown being formed by means of a longitudinal ange d4, which projects inwardly over the top of the base-Hanges, and another inwardly-projecting flange d5, which projects inwardly beneath the bottoms of the railfianges. As shown in said Figs. 1,'2, 3, ft, and 5, the lower-most tiange d5 extends beneath and bears against the horizontal marginal part b of the base-plate B, which part b, together with the margins of the baseflanges a2, enters the groove cl3. The bottom surface of the lower member (Z2 of said bar D is provided with au outwardly-extending fiange (t7, which projects horizontally outward from the web dand which is provided with notches ds to receive the holdingspikes F F' at the outer side of the joint. Said lower member d2 is, moreover, made fiat and horizontal on its lower surface, so that it is adapted to bear upon the top surface of the ties which support the same. The inwardly-extending flange di will be made of vertical thickness equal to the space or distance between the bottom of the elevated part b of the base-plate and the top of the tie, so that said marginal part of the baseplate rests upon and is supported by said bottom flange (Z5 and -in turn supports the outer part of the base-flanges of the rails which rest on said marginal part of the baseplate.

The upper surface of the groove d3, which receives the base-fianges of the rails, is inclined or beveled to correspond with the inclination of the upper surface of the said base-flanges, so that when the lower part of the bar D is drawn or forced toward the rails and the base-plate by the tightening of the track-bolts the base-anges will be tightly wedged or clamped in the groove and a rigid connection thereby made between the rails and the joint-plate D. Moreover, inasmuch as the margin of the base-plate enters the groove d3 with the rail-flanges, the base-plate is firmly clamped against the rails by the action of the oppositely-inclined walls of the said groove.

In the particular construction shown in Figs. l to 5 the upper member d of the bal' D has the form of an inwardly-projecting horizontal flange, and the web part d or portions of the bar between the upper member d' and the base member d2 is inclined downwardly and outwardly from its upward to its lowest part. The said plate D is provided with bolt-apertures d, through which pass the connecting-bolts E, by which the two joint-bars C and D are clamped to the adjacent rails.

In assembling the parts of the joints made as described the tightening of the nuts on the bolts E serves to draw the inner joint-bar C into close contact with the beveled surfaces of the head and base flange and at the same time operates to force or draw the outer bar D inwardly against the rails, so as to hold the upper member d' firmly in contact with the outer faces of the rail-heads and to draw the lower part of member d2 into clamping contact with the base-flanges and the outermargin of the base-plate on which the same rest. As the lower member is drawn toward the base-flanges of the rails in tightening the parts of the joint, the entire joint-bar will by reason of the contact of the inclined upper wall of the groove d3 with the inclined top of the base-flange rise with respect to the rails, the upper member of the bar which rests in contact with the outer surfaces of the railheads being free to slide or move upwardly on the rail-heads as the bar thus bodily rises. The innermost holding-spikes F in this construction eugage the spike-holes b b, so as to hold the base-plate from outward movement on the ties, and by reason of the presence of the flange or rib b5 on the base-plate against which the outer edges of the railfianges bear any outward movement of the rails is prevented, not only by the spikes F, which engage the outer joint-bar D, but also by the said spikes F, which engage the inner edges of the base-flanges.

In Fig. 6 is shown a joint like that illustrated in the figures above described, with the exception that the outer joint-bar D in this instance has at the upper margin of its ICO web portion d in addition to the inwardlyprojecting flange d', which comes in contact with the rail-heads, an outwardly-projecting Y flange d8, thus giving generally a T form to the upper part of the said bar and an I form to the bar as a whole. This form in the outer joint-bar D may sometimes be preferred, not only as giving a more stiff or rigid bar, but because a bar of this form may be more readily rolled from old track-rails, as will hereinafter appear.

Fig. 7 shows still another form of rail-joint, generally resembling that shown in Figs. 1 to 5. As shown in said Fig. 7, the outer jointbar D2 is made like that shown in'Fig. 6, with the exception that the entire bar is made heavier or thicker and the upper member especially is more massive, while the flanges d' d extend a less distance inwardly and outwardly from the upper Amargin of the web. As shown in said Fig. 7, moreover, provision is made for aording engagement between the lower margin of the angle-bar C and the baseplate B in such manner as to hold these parts from relative longitudinal movement, these features being more 'clearly shown in detail views Figs. 8 and 9, which show in perspective the said angle-plate and base-plate. The interlocking connection referred to'is afford# ed by means of a depending flange C' on the angle-bar C, said depending flange extending downwardly outside of the base-flange of the rails and being shorter than the angle-bar. The ends of said flange are adapted to engage transverse shoulders on the base-plate, which shpulders, as indicated by U b, are formed by cutting away the inner marginal part of the base-plate in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 9. The depending liange C is shown as depending from the central part of the bottom flange c of the angleeplate, while` the notch which forms the shoulders 737 57 is located at the central part of the base-plate and between the spike-holes h6. As a further improvement in connection with these features of construction iu the angle-plate C and base-plate B, I provide the depending flange C with an inwardly-extending horizontal marginal flange c2, which extends beneath andinterlocks with an inner marginal part b of the base-plate, which, as before stated, is elevated above the bottom surface of said base-plate, which rests upon the ties, and is made relatively wide for the support of the inner margins of the base-anges of the rails. The engagement of the horizontal flange c2 with the inner margin of the base-plate serves to hold the said inner margin of the base-plate in contact with the rails.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate the process lof forming or rolling the joint-bars D from old track-rails, G in Fig. 10 showingin reversed position a rail from which the bars are to be rolled and H indicating a blank for a jointbar in an intermediate stage of the process of its formation. Fig. 1l illustrates the blank from which will be formed a joint-bar like` that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the same having a double-flanged upper member or head. In the construction of such a j oint-bar it will be readily apparent from an inspection of Figs. 10 and 11 that the heads of the rails may each be converted into the lower member of the joint-bar by shifting the metal of one side of the head so as to form a longitudinal groove in one side thereof to correspond with the groove Ligand a iiange at the other side thereof to correspond with the ange d7 and by modifying the form of the base-flanges of the rail,

so that the same may constitute the flanges d/ d of Figs. 6 and 7.

In forming from old rails a joint-bar like that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, wherein the upper member of the joint-bar has an inwardly-extending iiange only, it will be preferred to sever one of the base-flanges of the rail along a line indicated by g g on Fig. 10, after which the rail can be readily converted by rolling to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

In Fig. 12 is shown in cross-sectional View a form of rail-joint embracing the main fea` tures of construction above described, but in which the outer joint-bar is made integral with the base-plate or, in other words, in which the bar as a whole is made of angular form and the lower flange of the outer bar `beneath the V-shaped groove therein is extended beneath the rail-base and constitutes a base-plate for the joint.

As shown in Fig. 12, D3 indicates the outer joint-bar, which is of the same general form as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and is provided with a wide inwardly-extending iiange B', which is wide enough to reach past the inner margins of the rails and is provided with spikeholes to receive holding-spikes F. In the instance illustrated in said Fig. 12 the horizontal part or flange B', which constitutes the base-plate, is made flat on its upper and lower surfaces and is adapted to rest upon the top surface of the ties and to have continuous bearing on the bottoni surfaces of the rails. The outer part or member Ds is provided with an upper horizontal member formed by an inwardly-extending ange d', like that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and the lower part of the said part D3 is provided with an inwardly-extending flange d4, the lower surface of 'which is downwardly and outwardly inclined or beveled to correspond with the inclination of the upper surface of the outer base-flange of the rail, like the corresponding fiange in Figs. 1 to 5. The V-shaped groove formed between the said flange d4 and the base plate or flange B in this instance, however, is made wide enough only to receive the margins of the j oint-plate instead of bein g substantially fiat,

IOC

IIO

as shown in the figures before described, is

made of outwardly-curved, arched, or convex.

form. This feature has the advantage that when the track-bolts are tightened the web will by reason of the slight flexibility of the web yield inwardly to a slight extent or, in other words, approach a flat form, and will thereby tend to maintain a constant pull or tension on the track-bolts, by which all of the parts of the joint will be held firmly in contact with each other. Moreover, when the web is thus made of curved or arched form the use of nut-locks on the track-bolts maybe avoided, as the elasticity of the arched web will always hold the nuts firmly in contact with the inner joint-bar. In Fig. 13 is shown a similar joint-bar of angular form having an outer member D4 and a horizontal bottom member B2. In this instance the web portion of the member D4 is brought near the vertical plane of the outer face of the railhead, and its upper longitudinal member has the form of an outwardly-extending flange 19, While its lower member is formed by a like outwardly-extending flange d10, which correspends in location with the flange d4, before described, and is joined at its outer margin to the outer margin of the base-plate B2, the groove to receive the margin of the rail in this instance being formed by and between the said outwardly-extending flange d10 and the horizontal flange B2.

As shown in said Fig. 13, the inner jointbar has the form of an angle-bar or is provided with a lower flange C', which extends outwardly over the inner base-fianges of the rail.

The operation of the combined base-plate and outer joint-bar (shown in Figs. 12 and 13) is generally the same as the form of bar shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive-that is to say, the V-shaped groove formed at the lower part or base of the outer joint-bar has clamping engagement with the base-flanges of the abutting rail ends, while the inwardly-extending flange constituting the upper member of the joint-bar bears against the side faces of the rail-heads and is free to move vertically thereon when the edges of the base-flanges are forced into said groove by the tightening of the rail-joint.

A general ad vantage gained bythe employment of a joint-bar of the girder form described is that of affording a joint having a great amount of vertical and lateral strength with a minimum amount of material.

An advantage gained by the employment of an outer joint-bar of girder form, the upper member of which rises to and bears against the outer face of the rail-head and the lower member of which extends beneath the base of the rail, is that a joint-bar thus made by reason of its great vertical depth possesses a great degree of stiness and capacity to withstand bending strains brought thereon by the rail ends, which are engaged therewith, under the stress of loads coming upon the ends of the rails and tending to depress one of them with respect to theV other or throw them out form of outer joint-bar described, whereby f the lower member of the same bears or rests upon the tie and its upper member bears against the rail-head, is that a joint-bar thus made constitutes a brace extending from the outer side of the rail-head downward to the tie at a point outside of the base of the rail and tending to brace or hold the rail-head from being thrust outwardly.

An advantage arising from the employment of a deep joint-bar having a wedge-shaped groove in the lower or base portion of a jointbar is that the longitudinal groove, having opposing inclined surfaces between which the outer edges of the base-flanges of the rails enter, serves to clamp or confine the said basefianges by a wedging action in the same manner as an ordinary joint-bar, such as is indicated by C, engaged the opposite inclined surfaces of the head and base flanges of a rail. In other words, the construction described provides a joint-bar which has clasping engagement with the base-flanges of the rail, while at the same time it is of such great vertical depth or width that it has a stiffness and capacity to resist vertical or downwardlyacting stresses much greater than that of a fish-plate or joint-bar which fits between the base-flanges and head of the rail. It will be further obvious that the parts of the joint made as above described are adapted to fit track-rails of varying weights or in which the base-flanges are of varying thicknesses by reason of wear of the rolls used in their manufacture, it being obvious that slight difierences in the sizes and relative proportions of the parts of the rails will make no difference in the operation or fit of the parts. This will be manifest, so far as the outer plate D is concerned, by consideration of the fact that a difference in the thickness ot' the baseflanges of the rails will merely result in the same entering a groove d3 to a greater or less extent and that the position the upper member or flange d' bears against the outer face -of the head of the rail may be varied vertically to some considerable extent without effecting the operation of said plate D. A flanged joint-bar, like the outer joint-bar D, made in the manner described, has the advantage when employed in connection with a base-plate, such as is shown in the figures above referred to, of clamping or holding the outer margins of the base-plate firmly in contact with the outer margin of the base-flanges of the rails, which rest thereon, so as to hold said parts from relative vertical movement and to utilize the stiffness of the base-plate as a means for holding the ends of the rails in alinement with each other.

When the outer joint-bar of' girder form, provided with a tapered or V-shaped groove adapted to have clamping engagement with IOO IIO

the top and bottom surfaces ofthe outer baselianges of the rails, is employed in connection with an inner joint-bar or splice-bar, which ts between the inclined faces of the rail-heads and base-Hanges, as shown in the accompanying drawings, it is obvious that the joint-bars at both sides of the joint are equally capable of being drawn up or tightened into snug contact withthe rails, so that equally rigid connections are aiforded between the rails at the inside and outside of the latter, while at the same time the joint as awhole is made of great strength and stiffness, because of the greater vertical depth and consequent greater stiffness of an outer joint-bar when made so deep as to extend from the level of the rail-heads downwardly to the base-anges of the rails.

I claim as my invention- 1. A rail-joint comprising a joint-bar consisting of a web portion and upper and lower laterally-extending, longitudinal members, giving a girder form to the bar, said lower longitudinal member being constructed to extend beneath the base-danges of the rails.

2. A rail-joint comprising a joint-bar of girder form, the lower margin of which extends beneath the base-anges of the rails, and the upper margin of which bears laterally against but not beneath the heads of the rails.

3. A rail-joint comprising a joint-bar of girder form, consisting of a web portion, a lower longitudinal member which has interlocking engagement with the base-anges of the rails, and an upper longitudinal member which bears laterally against but not beneath the heads of the rails.

4. A rail-joint comprising a joint-bar, the lower margin of which is provided witha tapered groove to receive the base-flanges of the rails, and the upper margin of which bears laterally against but not beneath the heads of the rails.

5. vA joint-bar of girder form consisting of a web portion, a lower laterally-extending longitudinal member provided in its inner face with a longitudinal groove adapted to receive the base-flanges of the rails, and an upper laterally extending longitudinal member adapted to bear laterally against the outer faces of,but not beneath the heads of the rails.

6. A rail-joint comprising a joint-bar of girder form, the lower margin of which is provided with a flat horizontal surface adapted to rest. on the ties and the upper margin of which is adapted to bear laterally against but not beneath the rail-heads. i

7 A rail-joint comprising a joint-bar having a web portion and upper and lower laterally-exending, longitudinal members, giving a girder form to the bar, the lower member of said bar being extended beneath the baseflanges of the rails and -being provided with a horizontal bottom surface adapted to rest on the ties.

. 8. A rail-joint comprising a 'joint-bar, the

10. A joint-bar7 the upper margin of which bears against the outer faces of, but not beneath, the rail-heads and which is provided in the inner face of its lower portion with a longitudinal groove adapted to receive the base-anges of the rails, and with a horizontal bottom surface adapted to rest on the ties.

11. A joint-bar, the upper margin of which is adapted to bear against the outer faces of, but not beneath, the rail-heads, and which is provided in the inner face of its lower portion with a longitudinal groove adapted to receive the base-danges ofthe rails, and on said lower portion with an outwardly-extending horizontal liange adapted to rest on the ties outside of said base-anges of the rails.

12. A joint-bar of girder form, consisting of a web portion, a lower member provided in its inner face with a longitudinal groove to reeeive the base-anges of the rails and at its outer face with a horizontal, outwardly-extending fiange having a horizontal bottom surface adapted to rest on the ties outside of the said base-danges of the rails, and an upper member having on its inner face a bearing-surface adapted for contact with the outer but not the under faces of the rail-heads.

13. A rail-joint comprising a joint-bar of girder form the lower margin of which extends beneath the base-flanges of the rails, and the top margin of which bears against the outer but not the under faces of the rail-heads, and is located below the level of the top surfaces of the rails.

14. A joint-bar of girder form provided in its lower margin with a longitudinal groove to receive' the base-flanges of the rails, and the upper margin of which is adapted to bear against the outer but not theunder faces of the rail-heads and is located below the level of the tops of the rails.

15. Arail-joint comprising a joint-bar of girder form, the lower margin of which extends beneath the base-anges of the rails and the upper margin of which is adapted to bear against the outer but not the under faces of the rail-heads, a second joint-bar which fits between the head and .base-flanges ot the rails, and track-bolts passing through said joint-bars and the rails.

16. Arail-jointcomprisingajoint-barwhich has in'its inner face a longitudinal groove to IOO IIO

receive the base-anges of the rails and the f against the outer, but not the under faces of the rail-heads, a second joint-bar which fits between the base-flanges and heads of the rails, and track-bolts passing through said joint-bars and the rails.

17. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate, and a joint'bar, the upper margin of which bears against the outer, but not the under, faces of the rail-heads and the lower margin of which extends beneath the basefianges of the rails and the base-plate.

1S. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate, and a joint-bar the upper margin of which bears against the outer, but not the under, faces of the rail-heads and the lower margin of which extends beneath the baseflanges of the rails and has interlocking engagement with the base-flanges of the rails and with the adjacent margin of the base-plate.

19. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate upon which the ends of the rails rest, said baseplate being provided with a lateral shoulder, and a joint-bar of girder form, the lower margin of which extends beneath the base-flanges of the rails and also beneath the margin of the base-plate.

20. A rail-jointcomprising a base-plate and a joint-bar of girder form, the lower margin of which extends beneath the base-flanges of the rails and beneath the base-plate, and the upper margin of which bears laterallyagainst the heads of the rails.

21. Arail-jointcomprisingabase-plateand a joint-bar the upper margin of which bears against the outer, but not the under, faces of the rail-heads and which is provided with a tapered, longitudinal groove adapted to receive-the margins of the base-liangcs of the rails together with the side margin of the base-plate.

22. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate, a joint-bar lthe upper margin of which bears against the outer, but not the under faces of the rail-heads, and which is provided with a longitudinal groove adapted to receive the base-flanges together with the margin of the base-plate, a joint-bar which fits between the base-flanges and heads of the rails, and trackbolts inserted through said joint-bars and rails.

23. Arail-joint,comprsingabase-plate and a joint-bar which extends at its lower margin beneath the marginal part ot' the base-plate, the said marginal part of said base-platebeing elevated above the lower bearing-surface of said base-plate to admit the marginal part of the joint-bar beneath the same.

24. A rail-joint, comprisinga base-plate and a joint-bar provided in the lower part with a longitudinalgroove to receive the base-Hanges of the rails and the marginal part of the baseplate, the side margin of said base-plate being elevated above the bottom surface of the base-plate which rests upon the ties to admit beneath the same the part of the joint-bar below said recess.

25. A rail-joint, com prisin ga base-plate and a joint-bar provided at its lower margin with a longitudinal groove to receive the baseiianges of the rails together with the margin of the said base-plate, said marginal part of the base-plate which engages said groove being provided with a rib which forms a shoulder for engagement with the base-flanges of the rails, and the bottom surface of said marginal part of the base-plate being elevated above the level of the bottom surface of the base-plate which rests on the ties to admit beneath it the lower marginal part of the joint-bar.

2G. A rail-joint, comprisingabase-plate and a joint-bar which is provided at its lower part with a longitudinal groove to receive the baseflanges of the'rails and the margin of the baseplate, and the upper part of which is adapted to bear against the side faces of the heads of the rails, the marginal part of the base-plate which enters said groove being elevated above the lowersnrface of the base-plate which rests ou the ties, and the said lower part of the joint-bar being provided with a horizontal bottom surface adapted to rest on the ties beneath the outer margins of said base-flanges of the rails.

27. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate and a join t-bar the lower margin of which extends beneath the margin of the base-plate and the base-flanges of the railsgsaid base-plate being provided in its upper surface beneath the rails, with longitudinal grooves, and being elevated atits margin to admit the lower margin of the joint-bar beneath it.

28. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate provided in its upper surface with longitudinal grooves, and at its outer edge with a longitudinal rib forming a shoulder for contact with the base-flanges of the rails, and a jointbar provided in its lower part with a longitudinal groove to receive the base-flanges of the rails together with the outer margin of the base-plate said base-plate being elevated at its said outer margin to admit beneath it the marginal part of the joint-bar below said groove.

29. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate and a joint-bar thelower margin of which extends beneath the margin of the base-plate and the base-flanges of the rails, said base-plate being elevated at its margin to admit the lower margin of the joint-bar beneath it, and the joint-bar having a horizontal bottom surface for contact with the ties located in the same horizontal plane with the bottom surface of the base-plate.

30. A base-plate of corrugated form provided with elevated parts beneath the side margins of the base-flanges of the rails, said base-plate being provided on its outer side margin with a longitudinal rib forming a shoulder againstwhich the outer base-flanges bear, and having its inner side margin depressed and provided with a bearing-surface for contact with the ties.

31. A rail-joint, comprising a base-plate,

IOO

IIO

IIS

provided at the inner margin of the rails with spike-holes, at the outer margins of the rail with ashoulder for engagement with the baseiianges of the rails, and a joint-bar, the lower margin of which is provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the side margins of the base-plate and the base-flanges ofthe rails.

32. A rail-joint, comprising a baseplate provided at the inner margin of the baseiianges of the rails with spike-holes, and at the outer margins of said base-flanges with a shoulder, and a joint-bar the lower part of which is provided with alongitudinal groove to receive the margin of the base-plate and of the base-flanges of the rails, the outer margin of the said base-plate being elevated above the main part thereof which rests on the ties to admitvthe lower margin of the joint-bar beneath it, and said joint-bar being provided with a horizontal bottom surface adapted to rest on the ties. l

33. A rail-joint, comprising a corrugated base-plate, an outer joint-bar, and an inner joint-bar of angular form, the lower margin of which is extended downwardly to and has endwise interlocking engagement with said base-plate.

34. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate, an outer joint-bar, and an inner joint-bar of angular form,V the lower margin of which is provided with a downwardly projecting part which has endwise interlocking engagement with the base-plate and which is provided with a marginal iiange which extends inwardly beneath said base-plate.

35. Arail-joint, comprising a base-plate,an outerjoint-bar, and an inner joint-bar, of anguiar form, said base-plate being provided with spike-holes near its inner edge, and having such inner edge cut away between 'theV spike-holes to form two inwardly-facing shoulders, and the inner joint-bar being of angular' form and having a downwardly-extending part, the ends of which engage the shoulders on the base-plate to lock the said inner joint-bar and the base-plate from relative endwise movement.

36. A rail-joint, comprising a base-plate, an outer joint-bar, the lower part of which is provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the base-flanges of the rails and the outer edge of the base-plate, and the upper part of which bears against the outer faces of the rail-heads, and an inner joint-bar which fits between the rail-heads and baseanges, said inner joint-bar being of angular form and being extended at its lower margin downwardly to and having endwise interlocking engagement with the said base-plate.

37. A rail-joint comprising a joint-bar of girder form, the lower margin of which extends beneath the base-anges' of the rails and the upper margin of which bears against the outer but not the under faces of the railheads, the intermediate or web portion of said bar bein,` outwardly curved or arched.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of July, A. D. 1902.

BENJAMIN W OLHAUPTER.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, WILLIAM L. HALL. 

